# Really lousy albums by really good bands **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455 "2020-06-11T14:50:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/21 "2020-06-11T20:08:15Z")
**Be Here Now** by Oasis. Bloated retreads all around. Famously described by Noel Gallagher as “the sound of five guys in the studio, on coke, not giving a fuck.” ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/22 "2020-06-11T20:11:07Z")
what about half an album? Elvis Costello’s “mighty like a rose” has about half of it good and the rest is dirges about Costello’s divorce from his first wife stemming from the fact she rediscovered her Catholic faith … ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/23 "2020-06-11T20:18:46Z")
missed the edit :What about half an album? Elvis Costello’s “mighty like a rose” has about half of it good and the rest is anti-religious/anti-romance dirges about Costello’s divorce from his first wife stemming from the fact she rediscovered her Catholic faith among other reasons … ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/24 "2020-06-11T20:33:02Z")
If I had to pick one stinker by **Yes** … Is it _90125_? Or _Big Generator_? Nope, neither. Both of those albums have a handful of good tracks. _Tormato_? Nah, it’s not as well-liked as their classics, but it’s a decent album. _Talk_? Maybe, but “Endless Dream” redeems the album from total turd-dom. That last studio album they did in 2014, with Jon Whatshisface-not-Anderson? Well, yeah, not that great an album, but… No, they made an album far, far worse than any of those. It was so bad, a lot of people might not even know it exists. I do my best to pretend it isn’t in their discography. I am talking about none other than _Open Your Eyes_. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/25 "2020-06-11T20:36:25Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > How about Van Halen Diver Down? I think it has one good song\* and a bunch of noise. I’ll see your Diver Down (“The Full Bug” and “Little Guitars” are also pretty good songs) and raise you Balance, the last album with Hagar. That one sucked. No opinion on Van Halen III (the Gary Cherone one) as to this day I still have never heard it all the way through. **Phobia** from The Kinks was not a good album for them to go out on. “Scattered” was great, and uh… **Face Dances** from The Who. “You Better, You Bet” was a great opening track, and then a whole bunch of meh. Even _It’s Hard_ had 3 good songs. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/26 "2020-06-11T21:01:21Z")
Jethro Tull’s [“A”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_(Jethro_Tull_album)) was, if not quite “really lousy”, a long long way from the quality I associate with them. And do any of these track names conjure up earworms for you? ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/27 "2020-06-11T21:02:39Z")
No votes for Dylan’s _Desire_? The Dylan album for people who don’t like Dylan. j ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/28 "2020-06-11T21:08:05Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > No votes for Dylan’s _Desire_? The Dylan album for people who don’t like Dylan. > > j Nope. 5/9 of the songs are decent if not exemplary. Not his best by any means, but not _horrible_. Dylan has perpetrated much worse in his day. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/29 "2020-06-11T21:22:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Nope. 5/9 of the songs are decent if not exemplary. Not his best by any means, but not _horrible_. Dylan has perpetrated much worse in his day. Each to their own. The whole thing is so damn unmemorable, I only have clear recall of 3 songs and I don’t like any of them. j ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/30 "2020-06-11T21:40:46Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > If I had to pick one stinker by **Yes** … > > Is it _90125_? Or _Big Generator_? Nope, neither. Both of those albums have a handful of good tracks. _Tormato_? Nah, it’s not as well-liked as their classics, but it’s a decent album. _Talk_? Maybe, but “Endless Dream” redeems the album from total turd-dom. That last studio album they did in 2014, with Jon Whatshisface-not-Anderson? Well, yeah, not that great an album, but… > > No, they made an album far, far worse than any of those. It was so bad, a lot of people might not even know it exists. I do my best to pretend it isn’t in their discography. I am talking about none other than _Open Your Eyes_. Drama is by far Yes’ worst album. I quite like 90125, it’s been forever since I heard Big Generator. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/31 "2020-06-11T21:43:02Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > I’ll see your Diver Down (“The Full Bug” and “Little Guitars” are also pretty good songs) and raise you Balance, the last album with Hagar. That one sucked. No opinion on Van Halen III (the Gary Cherone one) as to this day I still have never heard it all the way through. > > **Phobia** from The Kinks was not a good album for them to go out on. “Scattered” was great, and uh… > > **Face Dances** from The Who. “You Better, You Bet” was a great opening track, and then a whole bunch of meh. Even _It’s Hard_ had 3 good songs. Face Dances? You mean Don’t Let Go the Coat which is a great song and Daily Record which is amazing. Face Dances definitely gets a few plays every year from me, especially since it never makes it onto any classic rock station. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/32 "2020-06-11T21:43:36Z")
> [@split\_p\_j](#): > > I think Presence is great, but In Through the Out Door sucks. The live part of Ummagumma is just excellent. The other part was clearly experimental, but you can sense a lot of the foundation of what they would go on to do. So I think neither album qualifies for this list. Agreed, with the exception of “In the Evening”. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/33 "2020-06-11T21:51:05Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > _Mardi Gras_ by Creedence Clearwater Revival. That’s the one where the bassist and drummer insisted on writing songs, which are godawful. The rest is Fogerty phoning it in as his band dies, except for “Tomorrow Never Comes”, which is great. > > [Behold, Stu Cook (the bassist)'s “Take It Like A Friend”.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiMjORJuRWs) > > [Doug Clifford (the drummer)‘s "Tearin’ Up The Country".](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAAqLnuuKFw) Haha, yes… “Fogarty’s Revenge” It wasn’t quite like that (where the bassist and drummer insisted on writing songs). John Fogarty was fed up with carping from the band about them not having creative input. So he insisted that they each do four tracks. And for their tracks he said “tell me what to play or to sing, or tell me not to do anything”. “Sweet Hitchhiker” was on that too? Pretty good Fogarty song. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/34 "2020-06-11T21:57:10Z")
Pink Floyd’s _The Final Cut_ was pretty weak IMO. Listened to it once, couldn’t make it through a second listening. Roger Waters was too clever by half at that point. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/35 "2020-06-11T22:10:29Z")
> [@SwissMan](#): > > **Be Here Now** by Oasis. Bloated retreads all around. Famously described by Noel Gallagher as “the sound of five guys in the studio, on coke, not giving a fuck.” I suppose you may have already heard this, but in case you haven’t, here’s [Todd in the Shadow’s review of _Be Here Now_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg0FumbR4AU). Todd normally reviews pop singles and one-hit-wonders, but he also has a series called “Trainwreckords” that explores, well, train wrecks of records, naturally. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/36 "2020-06-11T22:13:07Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Each to their own. The whole thing is so damn unmemorable, I only have clear recall of 3 songs and I don’t like any of them. > > j I’m not a fan of **Desire** , mostly because of the 11-minute piece o’ crap _Joey_. But, it’s got some good to great stuff. _One More Cup of Coffee_ is a fine song. Cinematic, lyrically strong, and a good hook. _Hurricane_ is driving and driven, Bob singing and writing like he cares. It might be his best protest song (altho I deduct points, because I’m not sure Rueben was actually innocent). _Black Diamond Bay_ is a wonderful, funny story song. _Mozambique_ is about as catchy as Dylan gets, and presumably very tongue-in-cheek. _Isis_ is not a song I really like, but I can’t call it unmemorable. It’s about grave robbing. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/37 "2020-06-11T22:18:34Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Pink Floyd’s _The Final Cut_ was pretty weak IMO. Listened to it once, couldn’t make it through a second listening. Roger Waters was too clever by half at that point. I totally endorse this sentiment. Pathetic album. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/38 "2020-06-11T22:39:23Z")
Eminem has some great albums, but _Relapse_ (2009) sure wasn’t one of them. He even acknowledges this in “Not Afraid” on his next album, _Recovery_: “Let’s be honest…that last Relapse CD was ‘ehh’” ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/39 "2020-06-11T23:26:47Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Don’t know if it would count, but Neil Young’s _Arc_ isn’t his finest work. It’s right down there with Lou Reed’s _Machine Metal Music._ Hey! I unironically _love_ both of those albums. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455/40 "2020-06-11T23:39:15Z")
I’ve been a huge **Dream Theater** fan since 1992. When Mike Portnoy left the band, I was worried that their future material would suffer. They released _A Dramatic Turn of Events_, and my fears were borne out. It didn’t suck, but it wasn’t the Dream Theater I knew and loved. The next, self-titled album was a bit better, but still nowhere near as good as their previous stuff. So, at that point in time, I thought ADToE was their worst album. Then they announced they would be putting out a concept album, and a double album no less! I was so excited - finally, they are going to return to their roots, and put out a killer album! I bought _The Astonishing_ as soon as I could get my hands on it, and I couldn’t wait to listen to it. As I did… wow. I didn’t think this level of suckitude was possible. I forced myself to give it two listens, and got about halfway through a third before I decided to quit torturing myself. I’ve never gone back. I mean, ADToE may be their second-worst album, but I’ll still listen to it once in a while. _The Astonishing_? Nope. I guess DT put out another album last year. But I felt so burned by _The Astonishing_ that I’ve never bothered to check out the new one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-lousy-albums-by-really-good-bands/855455.md?page=3)